Evans, GA - Rickey P. Hicks, 62, of Evans, GA passed away on January 7, 2017.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Platt's Belair Road Chapel with Chaplain Dexter Lambert officiating.
Rickey was born in Richmond, Va. He graduated from Henrico High School and continued on to receive his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Rickey was married to Kimberly Hicks for 33 years.
Rickey was the first Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Augusta University and has been in this position for the last 3 years. Prior to being Dean, he was the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at East Carolina University, Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, and a Professor at Mississippi State University. He enjoyed working with his students and graduated 4 Ph.D. and 5 Masters Students.
Rickey was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honors Fraternity, the American Chemical Society, and American Peptide Society.
His main interest was always his research. Rickey held 5 patents, had 55 publications, and 9 invited book chapters. The focus of his research was on anti-microbial peptides in drug design for use in fighting drug resistant bacteria.
Rickey enjoyed football, basketball and spending time with dogs, Ozzy and Lizzy.
Rickey is survived by his devoted wife Kimberly, his beloved daughter Amy Jackson and her husband Justin who he considered his son. He is also survived by 2 sisters Marianne Higgins and Nancy Hart, his nieces and nephews. Rickey always had a kind word for everyone and a good heart. He will be deeply missed by many.
Rickey is preceded in death by his parents Richard and Marian Hicks.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Augusta University Foundation College of Science and Mathematics, 1120 15th Street, FI1000, Augusta, GA, 309012. or the Humane Society.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening, January 11, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.